Nature and Scope
10. The IPOA-SHARKS is voluntary. It has been elaborated within the framework of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries as envisaged by Article 2 (d). The provisions of Article 3 of the Code of Conduct apply to the interpretation and application of this document and its relationship with other international instruments. All concerned States6 are encouraged to implement it.
11. For the purposes of this document, the term “shark” is taken to include all species of sharks, skates, rays and chimaeras (Class Chondrichthyes), and the term “shark catch” is taken to include directed, bycatch, commercial, recreational and other forms of taking sharks.
12. The IPOA-SHARKS encompasses both target and non-target catches.